Our  Colored  Brethren 


The  PRESBYTERIAN  and  REFORMED  CHURCHES 
in  Co-operation  for  their  Betterment 
in  the  South. 


Published  by  the 

PERMANENT  COMMITTEE  ON  WORK 
AMONG  COLORED  PEOPLE 


For  additional  copies,  free,  address  the  Secretaries  of  the 
Boards  of  the  respective  Churches  of  the  Presbyterian 
Council,  or  the  Secretary  of  this  Committee, 

Rev.  W.  J.  Darby,  Evansville,  Ind. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/ourcoloredbrethrOOpres 


Our  Colored  Brethren 


The  PRESBYTERIAN  and  REFORMED  CHURCHES 
in  Co-operation  for  their  Betterment 
in  the  South. 


Published  by  the 

PERMANENT  COMMITTEE  ON  WORK 
AMONG  COLORED  PEOPLE 


For  additional  copies,  free,  address  the  Secretaries  of  the 
Boards  of  the  respective  Churches  of  the  Presbyterian 
Council,  or  the  Secretary  of  this  Committee, 

Rev.  W.  J.  Darby,  Evansville,  Ind. 


Omens  of  Promise. 


“That  there  is  ability  in  the  Negro  race  has  been  abundantly 
demonstrated.  One  thing  is  clearly  manifest,  namely,  that  the 
leadership  developed  among  them  has  been  of  manifold  benefit 
in  the  direction  of  the  forces  of  the  race.  More  than  it  is  aware 
the  public  is  indebted  to  that  leadership.  Challenging  the  ad- 
miration and  confidence  of  the  better  whites,  these  same  leaders 
have  succeeded  in  building  up  increased  interest  in  behalf  of 
their  race.  The  loftier  tone  of  sentiment  in  the  South  is  steadily 
turning  toward  the  welfare  of  the  Negro.  The  leading  press  of 
the  country  is  manifesting  signs  of  interest  in  the  Negro’s  behalf 
which  seem  to  promise  much  for  his  future  good. 

Now,  there  is  a gradual  reascendency  of  the  better  South. 
That  higher  and  dominant  class  of  other  years  is  coming  again  to 
the  front.  This  class  has  never  ceased  to  be  the  friends  of  the 
Negro.  He  has  never  had  sincerer  friends  than  they.  They 
have  understood  him  as  have  no  others.  They  know  aUke  his 
weaknesses  and  his  merits.  Nor  have  they  participated  in  the 
cruelties  which  have  been  visited  on  him.  Most  fortunate  for 
the  Negro  is  this  reaction  taking  place  just  at  this  time  when 
the  prospects  of  his  people  are  brightening  under  the  conditions 
already  named.  The  better  elements  of  the  two  races  are  get- 
ting together. 

While  the  Negro  leaders  recognize  the  importance  of  keep- 
ing the  race  well  within  itself  in  its  inherent  progress,  and  while 
they  recognize  the  necessity  and  the  wisdom  of  the  race  thinking 
for  itself  rather  than  have  another  race  to  think  for  it,  at  the 
same  time,  it  equally  recognizes  the  importance  of  keeping  in 
vital  touch  with  the  influential  members  of  the  stronger  race. 
By  means  of  this,  there  is  an  exchange  of  ideas  from  which 
comes  a propulsion  of  force  helpful  to  the  Negro,  and  it  may  be 
said  equally  helpful  to  the  philanthropic  spirit  of  the  white  man. 

Nor  is  the  public  unobservant  of  the  efforts,  most  pathetic 
in  themselves,  on  the  part  of  the  higher  type  of  the  Negro  race 
to  reach  and  influence  the  baser  elements  of  their  people.  It 
is  doubtful  if  any  other  people  on  the  globe  are  doing  more,  with 
proportionate  means  at  command,  than  the  Negroes  of  the 
South  in  genuine  philanthropic  effort.  So  long  as  the  race  of 
Negroes  proves  its  worth,  as  it  is  constantly  doing,  just  so  long 
will  it  continue  to  elicit  the  esteem  and  aid  of  the  better  whites 
who  hve  among  them  and  elsewhere.” 

fRiley,  in  “The  White  Man’s  Burden.”) 


THE  COUNCIL 


OF  THE 

REFORMED  CHURCHES  IN  AMERICA 

HOLDING  THE 

PRESBYTERIAN  SYSTEM. 


THE  CONSTITUENT  CHURCHES. 

The  Reformed  Church  in  America — 8 delegates. 

Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A — 30  delegates. 

Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S. — 12  delegates. 

Associate  Reformed  Synod  of  the  South— 2 delegates. 

Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States — 12  delegates. 

United  Presbyterian  Church — 8 delegates. 

Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  Colored — 4 delegates. 

OFFICERS  FOR  1912—14. 

President,  Rev.  John  H.  Prugh,  D.  D.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Vice-President,  Hon.  Elisha  A.  Fraser,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Stated  Clerk,  Rev'.  \Vm.  H.  Roberts,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia. 

Permanent  Clerk,  Rev.  Walter  A.  Brooks,  D.  D.,  Trenton,  N.  J. 
Treasurer,  Rev.  D.  F.  McGill,  D.  D.,  Ben  Avon,  Pa. 

STANDING  COMMITTEES  FOR  1912—14. 

Foreign  Missions,  Rev.  J.  F.  Cannon,  D.  D.,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Chairman. 

Home  Missions,  Rev.  Russell  Cecil,  D.  D.,  Richmond,  Va.,  Chairman. 

Christian  Education,  Rev.  J.  Preston  Searle,  D.  D.,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Chairman. 
Correspondence,  Rev.  T.  H.  Mackenzie,  D.  D.,  Flushing,  N.  Y.,  Chairman. 

Work  among  Colored  People,  Rev.  W.  J.  Darby,  D.  D.,  Evansville,  Ind., 
Chairman;  Rev.  James  Gray  Bolton,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia;  Rev.  J.  S.  Lyons,  D.  D., 
Louisville,  Ky.;  Rev.  D.  F.  McGill,  D.  D.,  Ben  Avon,  Pa.;  Rev.  T.  H.  Mackenzie, 
D.  D.,  Flushing,  N.  Y.;  Hon.  Elisha  A.  Fraser,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Rev.  A.  E.  Dahlmann, 
D.  D.,  Sheboygan,  Wis.;  Rev.  Frank  Getty,  Philadelphia;  Rev.  J.  M.  W.  DeShong, 
Fayetteville,  Tenn.;  Mr.  J.  L.  Twaddell,  Philadelphia. 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

The  OfBcers  and  Chairmen  of  the  Standing  Committees. 

Meetings  of  the  Councii.. 

New  York,  Collegiate  Reformed  Church,  December,  1907;  New  Orleans,  Pry- 
tania  St.  Presbyterian  Church,  March,  1909;  Louisville,  Presbyterian  Theological 
Seminary  of  Kentucky,  March,  1910;  Philadelphia,  Westminster  Hall,  Wither- 
spoon Bldg.,  February,  1911;  Pittsburgh,  Grace  Reformed  Church,  March,.  1912. 
Next  meeting  to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  with  the  United  Presbyterian  Churches. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  COUNCIL  PROCEEDINGS. 


New  York— 1907. 

“Resolved:  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Council  that  the  principle  of  co-opera- 
tion which  has  worked  so  admirably  in  the  foreign  field,  should  be  applied  as  far  as 
possible  to  work  among  the  Colored  People  of  our  country,  as  conducted  by  the 
constituent  bodies  of  this  Council.” 

New  Orleans — 1909. 

“The  negro  race,  as  well  as  the  white  race,  needs  th'e  influence  of  a strong 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  its  benefits  in  aU  the  particulars  mentioned  will  not  be 
confined  to  its  own  membership,  but  will  exert  a wholesome  influence  upon  all  the 
denominations. 

“Our  colored  brethren  have  a distinct  mission  to  the  people  of  their  own  race 
in  this  country,  as  well  as  in  Africa  or  elsewhere.  If  needless  divisions  put  them 
at  a disadvantage,  it  is  our  duty  and  theirs,  by  every  possible  sacrifice  or  service, 
to  reduce  the  hurtful  effects  of  such  division  to  a minimum.  To  enable  these 
60,000  Presbyterian  negroes  to  concentrate  their  efforts  most  effectively  on  the 
evangelization  of  their  own  people  in  the  South,  and  to  enlist  most  effectively  all 
white  Presbyterians  in  support  of  their  efforts,  is  the  two-fold  business  to  which 
this  Council  should  direct  the  earnest  and  prayerful  attention  of  the  people  of  all  of 
our  Churches.” 


• Louisville — 1910. 

“It  is  to  be  distinctly  remembered,  that  the  province  of  this  Council,  as  we 
understand  it,  is  not  to  supplant  or  in  the  least  degree  to  interfere  with  or  disturb 
any  of  the  existing  agencies  of  the  constituent  Churches,  but  to  bring  about  a better 
mutual  understanding,  to  diffuse  and  extend  information,  to^promote  closer  co-opera- 
tion, and  to  stimulate  to  greater  activity  wherever  there  may  be  need  of  it  among 
our  Reformed  Churches. 

“ The  fields  of  operation  in  which  these  several  Presbyterian  Churches  are 
conducting  their  work,  including  that  of  the  C.  P.  Church,  Colored,  are  so  distinct 
as  not  to  overlap  to  any  appreciable  extent.  There  is  but  little  duplicating  in  any 
part  of  the  field  and  no  unseemly  rivalry  anywhere,  a thing  for  which  we  have 
occasion  to  be  devoutly  thankful,  and  there  still  remains  very  much  to  do. 

“A  glance  at  the  map,  particularly  that  portion  called  ‘ the  black  belt,’  impresses 
us  with  the  vastness  of  the  field  untouched  by  our  Presbyterian  Churches,  a field  in 
which  we  know  there  is  abundant  room  and  crying  need  for  all  the  evangelistic  and 
educational  work  that  the  Presbyterians  of  this  country  can  do.” 

Philadelphia — 1911. 

“The  Council  of  the  Reformed  Churches  holding  the  Presbyterian  System 
recommends  to  the  supreme  judicatories  of  the  constituent  Churches,  for  their 
action,  the  following: 

1.  That  the  constituent  Churches  of  this  Council  should  unify,  through  exist- 
ing Agencies,  or  Agencies  to  be  established  by  the  supreme  judicatories,  their  work 
for  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

2.  That,  to  this  end,  a Permanent  Committee  shall  be  formed,  to  be  com- 
posed of  the  Secretary  and  two  members  of  each  Board  or  Agency,  already  at  work 
among  the  colored  people,  together  with  three  representatives  to  be  elected  from 
the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  and  three  from  the  Reformed  Church  in 
America;  the  representatives  to  be  chosen  by  the  Boards  or  other  Agencies,  desig- 
nated by  the  supreme  judicatories  of  the  constituent  Churches. 


2 


3.  That  this  Permanent  Committee  shall  have  power  to  plan  the  co-operative 
work,  and  to  put  plans  into  operation,  when  approved  by  the  Boards  and  other 
Agencies  appointing  the  Committees,  subject  to  the  supervisory  power  of  the 
supreme  judicatories.” 

Pittsburgh-1912. 

“Without  repeating  the  facts  and  figures  that  have  been  presented  to  the 
Council  at  previous  meetings,  we  desire  to  place  emphasis  upon  the  fact,  that  the 
educational  and  training  work  done  by  Presbyterians  among  the  negroes  of  the 
.South  is  recognized  as  of  supreme  importance.  The  uplift  and  betterment  of  the 
ten  millions  of  negroes  that  form  a part  of  our  common  citizenship  cannot  be  real- 
ized in  any  other  way  in  the  providence  of  God,  than  under  the  leadership  of  men 
and  women  of  their  own  race,  of  strong  Christian  character  and  with  such  training 
as  will  enable  them  to  command  the  confidence  and  following  of  their  people. 

“We  are  pleased  to  report  that  under  direction  of  the  General  Synod  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America,  their  Board  of  Home  Missions  is  expending  this 
year  in  work  among  the  negroes  of  the  South  the  sum  of  .SI, 200,  and  the  General 
Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  has  decided  to  enter  into  this 
work  and  has  authorized  its  Home  Board  to  make  an  appropriation  thereto  of 
.S3 ,000  per  year  for  three  years.  It  is  a matter  of  great  satisfaction  that  the  supreme 
Judicatories  of  these  Churches  of  the  Reformed  Faith  have  adopted  this  policy 
rather  than  entrance  upon  new  work  of  their  own,  thus  avoiding  further  divisions 
in  our  ranks  where  there  are  already  too  many  among  the  colored  people  of  the 
South. 

“The  reception  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church,  Colored,  by  unani- 
mous vote,  to  membership  in  this  Council,  is  an  event  of  unusual  interest,  and  we 
trust  it  may  mean  much  for  the  betterment  of  the  negro  race  in  the  South. 

“We  recommend  that  this  Permanent  Committee  on  Co-operative  Work  be 
called  to  meet  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  City  of  Pittsburgh,  at  10 
o’clock  A.  M.,  on  Thursday,  April  25,  for  the  purpose  of  organization,  and,  as  far 
as  possible,  the  outlining  of  plans,  to  the  end  that  the  most  helpful  report  possible 
may  be  submitted  through  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Council  to  the  supreme 
judicatories  at  their  approaching  meetings.” 


3 


PERMANENT  COMMITTEE 

ON 

WORK  AMONG  COLORED  PEOPLE. 


Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A. 

Established  by  the  Supreme  Judicatories  of  the  Constituent  Churches,  at  the 
suggestion  of  the  Council  meeting  in  Philadelphia,  February,  1911. 

MEMBERS. 

Reformed  Church  in  America — Rev.  J.  Brownlee  Voorhees,  25  E.  22d  St., 
New  York;  Rev.  J.  Preston  Searle,  D.  D.,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.— Rev.  S.  J.  Fisher,  D.  D.,  Rev.  E.  P. 
Cowan,  D.  D.  and  Mr.  R.  S.  Davis,  all  of  Pittsburgh. 

Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S. — Rev.  S.  L.  Morris,  D.  D.,  Atlanta,  Ga.; 
Rev.  J.  G.  Snedecor,  L.  L.  D.,  Tuscaloosa,  Ala.,  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Lyons,  D.  D.,  Louis- 
ville, Ky/.^ 

Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States — Rev.  C.  E.  Schaefifer,  D.  D.,  15th  and 
Race  Sts.,  Philadelphia;  Rev.  J.  C.  Leonard,  D.  D.,  Lexington,  N.  C.,  and  Rev.  J. 
L.  Murphy,  D.  D.,  Hickory,  N.  C. 

United  Presbyterian  Church — Rev.  J.  W.  Witherspoon,  D.  D.,  Pittsburgh; 
Rev.  D.  A.  McClenahan,  D.  D.,  Pittsburgh  and  Rev.  Dr.  R.  W.  McGranahan, 
D.  D.,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Colored  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church — Elder  P.  F.  Hill,  Nashville,  Tenn.; 
Rev.  James  Edwards,  D.  D.,  Huntingdon,  Tenn.,  and  Rev.  W.  J.  Darby,  D.  D., 
Evansville,  Ind.,  (of  Advisory  Board). 

OFFICERS  FOR  1912—13. 

Chairman — Rev.  J.  G.  Snedecor,  LL.D.,  Tuscaloosa,  Ala. 

Vice-Chairman — Rev.  J.  Preston  Searle,  D.  D.,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

Sec’y-Treas. — Rev.  Wm.  J.  Darby,  D.  D.,  Evansville,  Ind. 

Executive  Com. — The  officers  and  Rev.  E.  P.  Cowan,  D.  D.,  Pittsburgh,  Rev. 

C.  E.  Schaeffer,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia  and  Pres.  R.  W.  McGrana- 
han, D.  D.,  Knoxville,  Tenn. 

PLATFORM  FOR  CO-OPERATIVE  WORK. 

Resolutions  adopted  by  the  Permanent  Committee  at  Pittsburgh,  April  25, 
1912,  by  unanimous  vote,  endorsed  unanimously  by  the  appropriate  Boards  and 
Committees  of  the  constituent  churches  and  approved  by  the  Supreme  Judicatories 
of  the  constituent  churches  meeting  in  1912. 

1.  “Resolved:  That  our  comparison  in  this  conference,  of  our  respective 
fields,  shows  that  there  is  no  conflict  or  ‘overlapping’  in  these  fields  and  that  there 
is  much  room  unoccupied. 

2.  Resolved:  That  this  Committee  will  gladly  welcome  for  consideration 
any  suggestions  looking  to  the  extension  and  increased  efficiency  of  this  work  which 
any  of  the  Administrative  Agencies  may  desire  to  make. 

_3.  Resolved:  That  the  Permanent  Committee  recommends  to  the  Adminis- 
trative Agencies  consideration  of  the  desirability  of  seeking  from  the  iudicatories 
which  they  respectively  serve  such  action  as  both  these  Agencies  and  the  local 
ecclesiastical  judicatories  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Reformed  Churches  may  desire 
to  undertake  in  order  to  initiate  and  develop  plans  for  co-operation  in  evangelical 
work  in  cities  with  a large  colored  population,  similar  to  those  which  have  been  put 
in  operation  in  Louisville,  Ky. 

4.  Resolved:  That  we  recommend  to  the  Adminstrative  Agencies  considera- 

tion of  the  possible  and  desirable  co-operation  of  the  Sunday  School  Agencies  of 
the  respective  churches,  in  counsel  and  in  service,  in  work  among  the  colored  people. 

5.  The  educational,  missionary,  evangelistic  and  other  general  interests  of 
the  Colored  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  independent  Afro-American 
Presbyterian  Synod  shall  constitute  part  of  the  ‘co-operative  work’  of  the  Perma- 
nent Committee,  provided  the  General  Assembly  in  the  one  case  and  the  Synod  in 
the  other  shall  so  request  and  the  supreme  judicatories  of  the  constituent  Churches 
of  the  Council  shall  approve.  In  that  event,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive 
Committee  appointed  by  this  Permanent  Committee,  if  the  above  bodies  approve. 


4 


to  give  special  attention  to  the  general  interests  of  these  brethren,  by  visiting  their 
schools  and  church  judicatories,  when  possible,  or  by  correspondence,  counseling 
with  and  assisting  them  in  the  upbuilding  and  extension  of  their  independent  denomi- 
national work,  as  far  as  this  may  be  done. 

6.  Resolved:  That  the  Administrative  Agencies  be  requested  to  consider 

the  possible  desirability  of  seeking  from  the  judicatories  such  authority  for  the 
Educational  Boards  and  Committees  under  their  respective  control  as  shall  enable 
the  latter  to  aid  in  finding  worthy  candidates  for  the  ministry  of  the  colored  churches 
and  to  extend  aid  to  such  candidates,  in  Churches  where  this  authority  has  not 
already  been  conferred. 

7.  Resolved:  That  the  Permanent  Committee  suggests  to  the  delegates  from 

the  constituent  churches  that  they  report  to  the  bodies  from  which  they  respec- 
tively come  the  conviction  of  the  Committee  that  the  Publishing  Agencies  of  these 
churches  can  greatly  aid  in  work  among  the  colored  people  by  developing  singly  or 
in  co-operation,  literature  of  a two-fold  character. 

(a)  Literature  bringing  the  members  of  our  churches  information  concern- 

ing the  field  and  the  work  being  done  by  each  of  our  churches. 

(b)  Literature,  educational  and  devotional  for  the  colored  people  them- 

selves. 

8.  Resolved:  That  joint  Institutes  in  the  judgment  of  the  Permanent  Com- 
mittee may  afford  opportunity  for  a form  of  co-operation  making  for  economy  and 
for  the  larger  interests  and  effectiveness  of  such  gatherings.” 

THE  WORK  OF  THE  CHURCHES 

Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S.  A. 

Officers  of  the  Board. 

Rev.  S.  J.  Fisher,  U.  D.,  President. 

Rev.  E.  P.  Cowan,  1).  D.,  Cor. -Sec.  and  Treasurer. 

Rev.  John  M.  Gaston,  Associate  Secretary. 

Mrs.  Susan  L.  Storer,  Gen.  Sec.  Women’s  Dept.,  Bessemer  Bldg.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

AN  HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  North  began  Missionary  work  among  the  negroes 
of  the  South  fully  a year  before  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  Two  committees  were  at 
work  under  the  direction  of  the  General  Assembly  fO.  S.),  as  early  as  1864,  one 
with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis  and  the  other  at  Philadelphia.  In  May,  1865, 
the  General  Assembly  meeting  in  Pittsburgh,  united  these  committees  under  one 
general  committee  entitled  "the  General  Assembly’s  Committee  on  Freedmen.” 
It  met  by  order  of  the  Assembly  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  First  Church,  Pittsburgh, 
and  was  organized  June  22, 1865.  Before  the  reunion  there  was  another  work  similar 
in  character  and  purpose,  with  headquarters  in  New  York,  carried  on  as  a “Freed- 
men’s  Department”  in  connection  with  the  Presbyterian  Committee  of  Home  Mis- 
sions IN.  S.)  This  “Freedmen’s  Department”  existed  only  two  years,  making  its 
second  annual  report  in  1870.  When  the  two  Assemblies  united  in  1870,  the  work 
among  the  Freedmen  as  carried  on  from  New  York  and  Pittsburgh  was  consolidated 
and  a new  committee  appointed.  This  new  committee  was  organized  by  direction 
of  the  reunited  General  Assembly,  June  10,  1870  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  This  committee 
continued  to  work  without  change  of  plan  or  organization  for  twelve  years,  but  the 
question  of  ownership  of  property  necessary  to  the  work  and  the  handling  of  bequests 
made  it  evident  that  it  would  be  better  to  have  the  committee  incorporated.  In 
1882,  the  Assembly  at  Springfield;  111.,  sanctioned  the  change  and  the  committee 
obtained  a charter  September  16,  1882,  and  became  a corporate  body  under  the 
name  of  “The  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United 'States  of  America.” 

PRESENT  CONDITION. 

Church  Work. 

There  are  now  four  Colored  Synods  and  sixteen  Colored  Presbyteries  in  our 
work.  The  Synods  are  Catawba,  Atlantic,  East  Tennessee  and  Canadian. 

Catawba  Synod  has  four  Presbyteries;  Atlantic  Synod  has  five;  East  Tennessee 
Synod  has  three.  Canadian  Synod  has  three.  Lincoln  Presbytery  f colored)  is  in 
Kentucky  Synod  fwhite). 

These  Synods  have  in  them  398  churches  and  missions;  24,862  communicants; 
386  Sabbath  Schools  and  22,978  Sabbath  School  scholars. 


5 


These  colored  churches  raised  last  year  for  their  own  support,  $68,118.  They 
gave  to  the  Freedman’s  Board  $870;  to  all  the  other  Boards  .$2,190.  They  added 
to  their  churches  1542  new  members  on  confession  of  their  faith. 

The  average  amount  the  Freedman’s  Board  gives  as  supplementary  aid  to  min- 
isters under  its  care  is  .$20  per  month. 


ST.  JAMES  CHURCH,  GREENSBORO,  N.  C. 

School  Work. 

The  Board  maintained  last  year  131  schools.  In  these  schools  there  were 
15,045  pupils. 

The  Bible  and  the  Shorter  Catechism  are  required  to  be  taught  in  all  of  our 
schools. 

Only  Christian  teachers  are  employed,  and,  as  a rule,  they  must  be  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Our  schools  are  classified  as  follows: 

(1)  One  large  school  for  men  only — Biddle  University,  at  Charlotte,  X.  C., 
with  both  College  and  Theological  Departments.  Harbison  Agricultural  College  at 
Irmo,  S.  C.,  for  boys  and  young  men.  The  teachers  in  these  schools  are  all  colored. 


TYPICAL  PAROCHIAL  SCHOOL 
6 


(2)  Five  large  seminaries  for  girls  only,  presided  over  by  white  ministers,  with 
mostly  white  teachers,  as  follows:  Scotia  Seminary  at  Concord,  X.  C.;  Ingleside 
Seminary,  at  Burkeville,  Va.;  Mary  Holmes  Seminary,  at  West  Point,  Miss.;  Mary 
Allen  Seminary,  at  Crockett,  Texas;  and  Barber  Memorial  Seminary,  at  Anniston, 
Ala.  These  five  Seminaries  have  in  them  996  students. 


SCOTIA  SEMINARY,  CONCORD,  N.  C. 

f3)  Sixteen  Co-Educational  Boarding  Schools,  in  which  are  3,335  pupils. 

(4)  One  hundred  and  nine  other  schools,  under  the  names  of  Parochial, 
Academy,  Institute,  etc.  These  schools  raised  last  year  for  their  own  support 
S77,838  in  addition  to  what  they  received  from  the  Board. 

Scholarships  for  one  year  in  Biddle,  $80;  in  the  Seminaries,  $60;  in  the  co-educa- 
tional  schools,  $50. 

Money  Received  From  All  Sources  Last  Year. 


Church  Collections $ 76,784.73 

Young  Peoples’  Societies 10,727.24 

Sabbath  Schools 11,023.07 

Women’s  Societies 62,532.99 

Miscellaneous  Sources 34,468 . 20 

Interest  on  Invested  Funds 16,246.63 

Legacies 43 ,63 5 . 30 


Total $255,418. 16 


Whole  Number  of  Workers  in  Church  and  School  568. 


Ministers  who  preach  only 138 

Ministers  who  teach  and  preach 85 

Ministers  who  teach  only 17 

Laymen  who  teach 23 

Women  who  teach 295 


8 


James  McGranahan,  D.  D.,  President 


SUMMARY. 


Permanent  Investments S 201, 752  . 50 

School  Property  owned  and  used  by  the  Board 880,200 . 00 

Church  and  Manse  Property  owned  by  the  Board 12.3,615.00 

Notes  and  Mortgages  held  by  the  Board 15,9.57,. 59 

School  property  held  by  trustees 10,200.00 

Church  and  Manse  Property  held  by  trustees 541,600.00 


Pittsburgh,  Pa. 


.SI  ,779,325. 09 

JOHN  M.  GASTON, 

Associate  Secretary 


The  United  Presbyterian  Church 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church  has  eighteen  Mission  Stations  among  the 
colored  people.  These  are  located  in  the  States  of  Tennessee,  Virginia,  North  Caro- 
lina, Alabama  and  Indiana.  The  support  of  these  eighteen  Missions  involves  an 
outlay  from  the  Church  of  S85,000  annually.  The  number  of  workers  employed  is 
162.  The  colored  membership  of  the  Church  is  1300.  The  enrollment  in  the 
schools  is  4,199  and  in  the  Sabbath  Schools,  3,554.  The  contributions  of  the  Mis- 
sions themselves  the  past  year  amounted  to  $7,252. 

A GROWING  INFLUENCE. 

In  almost  every  Mission  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  there  is  hearty 
co-operation  with  the  intelligent  white  Christian  citizens  of  the  community.  This 
is  an  important  part  of  the  work  of  the  colored  missions.  The  work  of  Knoxville 
College  is  especially  noteworthy  in  this  regard,  the  white  churches  of  the  city  hold- 
ing a most  favorable  attitude  towards  the  work  of  that  institution. 

EDUCATIONAL  FEATURES  PRE-EMINENT. 

In  all  but  one  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Missions  the  educational  feature  is 
at  the  basis  of  the  work.  The  one  exception  is  the  Witherspoon  Memorial  Church 
in  Indianapolis.  All  the  others  have  a nine  months  school  session  with  a corps  of 
teachers  adequate  for  giving  thorough  and  varied  instruction,  both  literary  and 
industrial.  The  schools  are  standardized  on  the  basis  of  a well-developed  sj'-stem. 
Knoxville  College  is  the  only  one  of  full  college  rank,  offering  complete  courses  in 
preparation  for  the  ministry.  College  courses  leading  to  the  usual  degrees,  and  also 
Normal  and  Agricultural  courses.  Five  of  the  others  offer  a full  Normal  course, 
while  the  rest  stop  with  the  Eighth  grade.  A daily  recitation  in  the  Bible  is  had 
in  all  the  Missions. 

KNOXVILLE  COLLEGE’S  RANK  AMONG  COLORED  COLLEGES. 

Under  the  direction  of  Dr.  W.  E.  B.  DuBois,  assisted  by  other  competent  men, 
the  Slater  fund  publishes  each  year  an  exhaustive  study  of  some  phase  of  the  negro 
life  and  problem.  This  year  the  subject  was  the  “College  Bred  American  Negro,” 
and  some  very  interesting  findings  were  made.  It  is  shown  that  there  are  thirty- 
two  institutions  by  the  name  of  college  or  university  exclusively  for  Negroes.  Of 
these,  eleven  measure  up  to  the  standard  of  the  Southern  institutions  in  their  entrance 
requirements  of  14  units  or  more.  Of  these,  Knoxville  College  is  one.  Another 
classification  is  on  the  basis  of  “'Thoroughness  of  Work  Done,”  and  only  four  are 
ranked  “excellent,”  one  of  which  is  Knoxville  College.  Under  “Adherence  to 
Catalogue  Announcements,”  the  same  four  enjoy  the  pre-eminence  of  “excellent.” 
Under  “Quality  of  Work  Done,”  Knoxville  College  is  one  of  the  six  standing  first. 
As  this  is  the  first  attempt  at  standardization  of  the  colleges  for  the  colored  youth, 
the  report  has  awakened  much  interest  and  it  is  gratifying  that  the  showing  is  so 
excellent  for  our  own  institution. 

RURAL  MISSIONS. 

A group  of  five  Missions  in  Wilcox  Co.,  Alabama,  are  located  in  the  midst  of 
the  thickly  settled  plantation  life  of  the  negroes.  The  results  are  most  gratifying. 
A large  percentage  remain  on  the  farms  and  a multitude  is  reached  that  would  not 
otherwise  receive  even  a rudimentary  education.  A large  planter  in  each  neigh- 
borhood is  the  friend  and  patron  of  the  Mission. 


10 


11 


mi. 


GROUP  OF  COLORED  MINISTERS  TRAINED  BY  THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


The  Mission  at  Arlington,  Ala.,  is  in  a distinctly  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
Community.  The  Cumberland  Church  has  a good  congregation  at  that  point, 
but  has  no  school.  The  United  Presbyterian  School  is  large  and  offers  splendid 
facilities  for  educational  training. 

DEPARTMENTS. 

Thorough  training  is  provided  in  the  three  fundamental  lines;  intellectual,  re- 
ligious and  industrial.  While  the  great  emphasis  of  late  has  been  placed  upon  the 
Industrial  Department,  yet  there  has  been  no  lowering  in  any  way  of  the  literary 
and  religious  standards.  A determined  effort  has  been  made  to  correlate  the  literary 
and  industrial  work,  and  the  success  of  such  correlation  is  exceedingly  gratifying,  t 
By  maintaining  the  two  side  by  side,  most  healthful  notions  of  both  literary  and 
industrial  activity  are  inculcated.  There  is  no  inconsistency  between  the  highest 
literary  and  the  most  thorough  industrial  training. 

Three  Hospitals  are  maintained  where  girls  are  given  full  courses  in  nurse 
training  and  the  afflicted  in  the  community  are  given  a fine  opportunity  for  treat- 
ment and  hospital  care  that  would  otherwise  be  impossible.  At  Knoxville  College, 
Henderson,  N.  C.  Institute  and  Miller’s  Ferry,  Ala.  Institute,  the  hospitals  are 
maintained. 

Nurse  training  for  colored  young  women  is  not  only  the  most  lucrative  of  open- 
ings for  them,  but  affords  most  effective  ministry  to  the  colored  people.  It  has  a 
special  opportunity  for  contributing  to  the  better  feeling  of  the  races  as  competent 
young  women  take  their  places  in  white  families  as  trained  nurses.  The  represen- 
tative white  people  of  the  South  are  eager  to  have  colored  nurses. 

RELIGIOUS  AND  SPIRITUAL. 

The  prime  object  of  Knoxville  College  is  to  train  lives  for  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ,  and  all  of  the  departments  are  made  to  converge  to  this  great  end. 

The  comparatively  small  membership  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church  as  a 
result  of  the  Mission  Work  done  among  the  negroes  is  often  the  subject  of  inquiry. 
The  explanation  is  that  our  field  of  work  is  located  with  regard  to  the  need  of  the 
negro  rather  than  with  regard  to  the  possibility  of  building  up  the  United  Presbyterian 
denomination.  It  is  notable  that  among  all  our  Mission  stations  only  two,  Hender- 
son, N.  C.  and  Arlington,  Ala.,  are  in  what  might  be  known  as  a Presbyterian  com- 
munity of  colored  people,  and  excepting  the  few  members  that  are  received  from 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  these  fields,  all  our  recruits  have  come  from  outside  of 
Presbyterian  affiliations  entirely.  The  work  is  essentially  altruistic.  The  contri- 
bution from  our  work  to  other  denominations  is  quite  a good  deal  larger  than  that 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  Church.  Even  those  who  are  members  of  our  own 
church,  when  they  go  out  into  the  world  after  graduation,  frequently  are  thrown 
into  places  where  there  is  no  possibility  of  identifying  themselves  with  our  own 
church.  Hence  the  work  is  essentially  altruistic  and  is  not  less  far-reaching  because 
the  greater  part  of  the  fruit  is  borne  on  ecclesiastical  trees  other  than  our  own.  It 
is  gratifying  that  ministers  of  all  denominations  ivho  have  been  trained  in  our  Mis- 
sions have  invariably  stood  for  a high  standard  in  morals,  fidelity  to  the  old  faith, 
and  evangelistic  effort  in  reaching  the  unsaved. 

J.  W.  WITHERSPOON, 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Secretary. 


Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S. 

Historical  Sketch. 

Before  the  war  Presbyterians  who  owned  slaves  in  the  South  were  noted  for 
the  Christian  zeal  with  which  they  prosecuted  religious  instruction  among  the  black 
people.  As  a rule,  Presbyterian  Churches,  especially  in  the  country,  were  built 
with  large  galleries,  where  were  seated  the  negro  members.  It  is  estimated  that 
there  were  35,000  negro  members  of  Presbyterian  white  churches  at  the  time  of 
the  disruption  of  the  church  in  1861.  These  people  were  instructed  carefully  and 
their  morals  were  kept  to  a high  standard  by  the  careful  oversight  of  the  Sessions. 
They  listened  to  the  same  preachers,  and  communed  at  the  same  time  with  their 
white  brethren.  In  localities  where  the  negroes  greatly  outnumbered  the  whites 
and  in  several  cities,  separate  churches  were  built  for  the  negroes;  but  white  minis- 
ters were  generally  employed.  An  example  of  this  arrangement  was  in  Charleston, 
S.  C.,  where  Dr.  Girardeau  preached  to  a large  negro  congregation  in  a building. 


12 


13 


STILLMAN  INSTITUTE,  TUSCALOOSA,  ALA. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Snedecor,  L.  L.  D.,  Superintendent 


which  still  stands — a monument  to  the  Christian  liberality  of  the  Presbyterians  of 
that  city.  Incidentally,  that  Church  stands  as  a remembrance  of  a neglected  oppor- 
tunity of  the  Southern  Presbyterians,  for  it  now  shelters  a colored  congregation  that 
does  not  belong  to  our  Assembly. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church  in  1861,  work 
among  the  negroes  was  per  force  interrupted,  but  a reading  of  the  minutes  of  the 
early  sessions  of  the  General  Assembly  shows  an  amazing  number  of  references  to 
Missionary  work  among  the  negroes  and  much  consideration  of  plans  and  principles 
upon  which  the  work  might  be  prosecuted. 

In  1876,  Dr.  Charles  A.  Stillman  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  an  over- 
ture from  the  session  of  the  Gainesville,  Alabama,  church  urging  the  establishment 
of  a school  for  the  training  of  colored  ministers.  This  received  the  earnest  support 
of  Dr.  B.  M.  Palmer,  and  others,  and  the  school  was  located  at  Tuscaloosa,  Ala- 
bama, where  Dr.  Stillman  had  meantime  moved  as  pastor.  He  was  appointed 
superintendent,  and  for  twenty  years  managed  the  Tuscaloosa  Institute,  as  it  was 
called,  with  consummate  tact  and  patience,  and  at  the  same  time  retaining,  through 
all  those  troublous  times,  his  popularity  as  pastor  of  the  aristocratic  old  church  at 
Tuscaloosa. 

During  this  period  the  work  was  under  the  care  of  the  Assembly’s  committee 
of  Home  Missions.  In  1891,  the  Assembly  created  an  Executive  Committee  of 
Colored  Evangelization,  and  appointed  as  Secretary,  Rev.  A.  L.  Phillips,  pastor  of 
vSouth  Highlands  Church  at  Birmingham.  Dr.  Stillman  was  called  to  his  reward  in 
1895,  and  the  school  has  since  been  called  Stillman  Institute.  His  memorial  is 
written  in  the  lives  of  the  good  men  whom  he  trained  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  their 
perishing  people. 

The  history  of  colored  evangelization  is  a continued  story  of  consecration  by 
the  very  best  men  of  our  Southern  church,  and  also,  sad  to  recall,  of  unappreciated 
effort  and  constant  discouragement. 

The  gifted  Andrew  Flinn  Dickson  was  the  first  teacher,  followed  by  such  men 
as  James  W.  Kerr,  D.  C.  Rankin,  W.  H.  Richardson,  J.  J.  Anderson,  D.  D.  Sander- 
son, J.  G.  Praigg,  J.  R.  Howerton,  R.  B.  McAlpine,  D.  D.  Little  and  others. 

In  1898,  Dr.  Phillips  with  all  his  splendid  energy  and  enthusiasm  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  because  of  the  indifference  of  the  church  and  a consequent  lack  of 
support. 

Rev.  D.  C.  Lilly,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Tuscaloosa,  was 
elected  Secretary,  and  for  a while  gave  much  time  while  still  pastor  towards  arousing 
an  interest  in  the  work.  He  was  ably  assisted  by  another  most  godly  and  conse- 
crated man.  Rev.  O.  B.  Wilson,  then  a teacher  at  the  Institute.  It  has  been  said 
of  Mr.  Wilson,  that,  “When  one  of  God’s  workers  has  been  removed  another  is 
always  ready  to  take  his  place — but  so  far  there  has  been  found  no  other  Wilson.’’ 

When  Mr.  Wilson  was  killed  by  lightning  while  talking  over  the  telephone  to 
Dr.  Lilly,  and  the  latter’s  life  was  spared,  he  felt  called  as  if  by  God  to  give  his  entire 
time  to  the  work.  He  shortly  afterwards  resigned  the  pastorate  of  the  church  to 
give  himself  fully  to  the  Secretaryship.  In  1903,  owing  to  failing  health  and  great 
nervous  strain  from  indifference  and  lack  of  support  of  the  church,  he  resigned  and 
Rev.  Jas.  G.  Snedecor,  of  Birmingham,  was  made  Secretary. 

During  the  last  five  years  there  has  been  a slow,  but  steady  growth  in  the 
interest  of  our  people  in  this  cause,  as  indicated  by  the  increase  in  the  receipts  of 
the  Assembly’s  Committee  from  $8,500  in  1903,  to  $16,500  in  1910.  But  still  the 
income  has  never  been  adequate  to  the  opportunities  for  extending  the  work  and 
the  present  wide-spread  hopelessness  and  skepticism  of  our  church  is  a matter  that 
should  receive  the  most  earnest  and  prayerful  attention  of  every  missionar\’  gather- 
ing. 

THE  SCOPE  OF  THE  WORK. 

The  church  has  organized  the  following  lines  of  effort : 

1.  To  educate  and  train  good,  sensible  preachers  at  Stillman  Institute. 

2.  To  assist  in  building  neat  churches. 

3.  To  supervise,  encourage  and  partially  support  the  pastors  of  Colored  Pres- 
byterian Churches,  who  shall  conduct  parochial  schools. 

4.  To  organize  Sunday  School  Missions  taught  by  white  people,  such  as  may 
be  found  at  Louisville,  Memphis,  Atlanta,  and  many  smaller  places.  This  is  a com- 
bination of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions — a work  among  foreign  people  in  the  home 
land.  The  Assembly  at  Lewisburg,  Va.,  recognized  the  relationship  and  ordered 
the  consolidation  of  the  committee  on  colored  evangelization  with  that  of  Home 
Missions.  Hereafter,  when  we  give  to  Home  Missions  let  us  enlarge  our  gifts,  for 
we  are  now  giving  to  all  the  alien  and  dependent  races  gathered  on  American  soil. 


14 


PRESENT  AND  FUTURE  NEEDS. 

It  is  difficult  to  itemize  the  needs  of  such  an  undertaking.  Opportunities  are 
apparent  at  every  cross-roads  in  the  “black  belt,”  as  those  districts  are  described 
where  the  negro  population  is  densest. 

Missionaries  can  find  heathen  along  every  lane.  Schools  are  needed  every- 
where. The  most  urgent  need  is  of  a godly  and  intelligent  ministry.  Such  a work 
cannot  be  measured  by  denominational  lines,  and  therefore  the  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church  is  glad  to  welcome  Methodists  and  Baptists  to  her  Bible  Training 
School  at  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama. 

In  order  to  accommodate  all  who  may  apply,  Stillman  Institute  needs  a new  dor- 
mitory to  be  built  of  brick  and  to  cost  not  less  than  $10,000.  The  enrollment  of 
young  men  seeking  preparation  for  the  ministry,  or  of  ministers  seeking  better 
training,  has  averaged  more  than  thirty  the  past  three  years. 

An  endowment  for  Stillman  Institute  is  becoming  an  imperative  need.  For 
thirty-five  years  the  barest  necessities  of  this  beneficent  missionary  agency  have  been 
supplied  by  the  gifts  of  churches  and  faithful  friends.  The  professors,  all  Southern 
white  men,  have  been  poorly  paid,  and  only  their  devotion  to  the  end  in  view  has 
enabled  the  management  to  keep  such  capable  men  in  charge. 

An  endowment  of  $150,000  would  be  a fine  monument  to  the  good  negroes  of 
the  past,  and  a proper  token  of  appreciation  and  gratitude  on  the  part  of  the  white 
people  of  the  South,  for  the  faithful  services  of  the  slave  of  past  days.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  note  here,  that  by  the  will  of  the  late  William  Birthwright,  a highly  esteemed 
colored  citizen  of  Missouri,  the  Stillman  Institute  will  eventually  acquire  about 
one-third  of  the  above  endowment. 


RESULTS. 

While  numerically  the  results  of  our  work  in  behalf  of  the  colored  people  do 
not  run  into  large  figures,  it  has  been  worth  while  as  a mark  of  our  own  sincerity  in 
missionary  matters.  It  would  indicate  little  control  of  prejudice,  and  little  devo- 
tion to  the  spirit  of  Christ,  if  we  found  it  easy  to  supply  and  support  missionaries 
to  .Africa,  and  could  find  neither  men  nor  money  for  work  among  the  Afro-Americans, 
who  are  our  neighbors. 

At  Stillman  Institute  five  men  have  been  educated  for  missionary  work  in  the 
Congo  Free  State,  thirty-five  have  charge  of  Presbyterian  Churches  in  the  South 
and  as  many  more  are  serving  in  churches  of  other  denorninations. 

Just  at  this  time  there  is  much  to  encourage  the  Southern  Church  to  press  for- 
ward with  this  phase  of  Home  Missions.  The  proffered  co-operation  of  other  Pres- 
byterian and  Reformed  bodies,  the  proposed  formation  of  a colored  independent 
Presbyterian  body,  to  include  the  Afro-American  Synod,  and  the  Colored  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  As.sembly  are  movements  full  of  promise.  The  guiding,  sustain- 
ing and  educating  such  a body  of  Colored  Presbyterians  will  prove  an  opening  door 
of  privilege. 


GENERAL  EDUCATIONAL  EFFORTS. 

In  the  department  of  the  general  education  of  colored  youth  the  Southern 
Presbyterian  Church,  just  arising  from  the  poverty  and  distress  entailed  by  the 
Civil  War,  has  not  attempted  any  extensive  work.  Parochial  schools,  taught  by 
the  pastors  of  our  colored  churches,  have  been  encouraged.  A model  school  of  this 
sort  with  industrial  features  is  conducted  by  Rev.  R.  D.  Roulhac,  Pastor  at  Selma, 
Alabama,  and  this  list  should  be  extended  to  include  Rev.  A.  M.  Plant,  Texarkana, 
Texas:  Rev.  B.  B.  Palmer,  Milton,  \.  C.;  Rev.  J.  W.  Lee,  Baton  Rouge,  La.;  Rev. 
G.  W.  Gideon,  Homer,  Ga.;  Rev.  J.  S.  Morrow,  N.  Wilkesboro,  N.  C.,  and  many 
others.  Rev.  Henry  C.  Ray,  at  Florence,  S.  C.,  will  open  a similar  school  this  Fall, 
with  the  kind  help  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 
America.  This  is  a most  fruitful  field  of  missionary  effort,  and  if  funds  were  avail- 
able, we  should  be  glad  to  give  each  pastor  an  assistant  in  a parochial  school  and  a 
school-house  hard-by  the  church. 

The  education  of  the  mothers  of  the  coming  generation  is  a matter,  the  import- 
ance of  which  is  not  confined  to  the  darker  races,  but  among  them  it  is  peculiarly  an 
inviting  field.  The  general  lack  of  proper  home  influences  is  a calamity  which  faces 
the  large  majority  of  negro  girls.  Some  years  ago,  our  Committee  took  over  the 
Ferguson- Williams  School  at  Abbeville,  S.  C.,  but  we  have  poorly  seconded  the 
efforts  of  Rev.  E.  W.  Williams  and  his  efficient  wife  in  their  efforts  to  develop  a 
first-class  girls’  training  school. 

At  the  date  of  this  publication,  a propitious  effort  is  being  made  to  give  this 
school  for  girls  a new  equipment.  An  influential  Board  of  Trustees  has  undertaken 


15 


the  local  management.  Through  the  generosity  of  a friend  of  the  president,  money 
has  been  supplied  for  purchasing  forty  acres  for  the  new  buildings  and  a farm.  A 
quarry  of  beautiful  granite  has  been  opened  on  this  land,  and  it  now  awaits  some 
magic  touch  to  raise  this  stone  into  a modern  school  building. 

An  inevitable  conclusion  from  this  meager  sketch  is  that  the  work  of  the  Southern 
Presbyterian  Church  in  colored  evangelization  is  still  before  us.  Perhaps  our  best 
work  in  the  past  has  been  to  contribute  a mite  towards  lessening  public  prejudice, 
and  to  contribute  something  to  the  campaign  of  education  that  is  going  on,  which 
is  finally  to  bring  all  the  Christian  forces  of  the  country  into  a tolerant  and  Christ- 
like  effort  to  help  our  backward  brother. 

JAMES  G.  SNEDECOR, 

Tuscaloosa,  Alabama.  Superintendent  Colored  Evangelization. 


Colored  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church. 

Their  Origin. 

This  is  an  independent  denomination  of  Presbyterian  negroes,  which  now  has 
membership  in  the  Council  and  is  thereby  officially  recognized  as  a part  of  the 
Presbyterian  family  in  the  United  States.  Their  existence  as  a separate  denomina- 
tion was  made  necessary  by  the  events  following  the  Civil  War.  Previously  the 
Christian  negroes  on  the  plantations  of  white  Cumberland  Presbyterians  were  mem- 
bers of  the  church  of  their  masters,  with  their  names  on  the  same  register,  claiming 
the  same  pastor,  having  their  appointed  seats  in  the  same  house  of  worship  and 
communing  together  at  the  Lord’s  table.  After  the  war,  it  became  necessaiy'  for 
them  literally  to  “set  up  housekeeping  for  themselves’’  and  this  applied  also  to 
their  Church  home.  In  the  erection  of  their  crude  houses  of  worship  and  in  building 
better  ones  later  on,  they  were  always  assisted  liberally  by  their  white  friends,  but 
never  by  any  Board  or  organized  process  of  “Home  Missions’’  or  “Church  Erec- 
tion.” With  the  genuine  evangelistic  spirit,  they  prospered  and  increased,  growing 
into  Presbyteries  and  a General  Assembly,  occupying  a considerable  part  of  the 
territory  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Texas  and  Missouri.  In  their  4 
Synods  and  16  Presbyteries  they  have  185  Churches,  163  ordained  ministers,  65 
licentiates  and  a membership,  which  in  the  absence  of  complete  statistics,  may  be 
fairly  estimated  at  probably  15,000.  Their  remarkable  growth,  under  the  evange- 
listic spirit,  in  the  years  immediately  following  the  war,  was  halted  naturally  by 
reason  of  their  lack  of  funds  for  building  and  maintaining  schools  and  securing  the 
necessary  training  for  preachers,  teachers  and  other  leaders.  They  made  heroic 
sacrifices  to  secure  these  training  agencies,  having  no  systematic  aid  whatever 
from  any  white  church. 


TRAINING  OF  LEADERS. 

At  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  they  have  an  excellent  school  with  its  Biblical  Depart- 
ment for  the  training  of  candidates  for  the  ministry  and  its  Normal  Department 
for  the  training  of  teachers.  During  the  seven  years  since  the  Cumberland  Union 
they  have  enjoyed  the  first  systematic  aid  in  this  school  that  has  ever  been  accorded 
any  part  of  their  work.  This  came  through  the  Treasury  of  the  Board  of  Missions 
for  Freedmen  of  the  U.  S.  A.  Church,  through  contributions  sent  that  Board  by  the 
former  Cumberland  Churches.  The  Board  also  from  its  separate  Treasury  pays 
the  salary  of  the  principal  teacher  in  the  Biblical  Department.  This  school  also 
has  the  promise  of  aid  from  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  and  the  out- 
look is  encouraging.  They  need  scholarships  for  at  least  twenty  young  men  who 
are  preparing  for  the  ministry.  These  twenty  scholarships  of  $50  each  would  soon, 
of  themselves,  guarantee  through  this  school  a marked  advance  in  the  type  of 
educated  ministers  for  this  denomination.  Churches,  Sunday  Schools  and  indi- 
viduals are  reminded  of  this  admirable  opportunity  for  advancing  Ministerial 
training  among  the  negroes  of  the  .South. 


16 


|i| 

. 


MAIN  BUILDING— ACADEMY— BOWLING  GREEN,  KY. 
Rev.  R.  L.  Hyde,  I).  D„  President 


■MINISTERIAL  STUDENTS  OF  THE  C.  P.  CHURCH,  COLORED,  AND  THEIR 
TEACHERS— DARBY  BIBLE  SCHOOL— BOWLING  GREEN,  KY. 

Rev.  William  Wolfe,  of  Lincoln  University,  Dean 

17 


At  Milan,  Tennessee,  a school  of  the  Biblical  and  Industrial  type  is  being  estab- 
lished and  the  denomination  also  has  some  secondary  schools  in  the  State  of  Ala- 
bama. .Aid  for  its  educational  work  is  the  one  great  need  of  this  denomination. 

EVANGELISTIC. 

Illustrative  of  the  process  of  building  up  independent  self-sustaining  churches 
in  a number  of  towns  and  cities  may  be  mentioned  the  church  at  Huntsville,  .Ala- 
bama. 


COLORED  CU.MBERL.WD  PRESBYTERI.AX  CHURCH,  HUNTSVILLE,  .A.L.\. 

Rev.  tv.  H.  Lampley,  Pastor 

.As  a further  illustration  of  how  the  cause  suffers  in  this  church  for  the  lack  of 
organized  and  liberal  assistance,  there  has  been  for  many  years  a struggling  little 
band  of  faithful  Cumberland  Presbyterians  of  the  negro  race  in  the  city  of  Nashville, 
but  they  have  had  no  suitable  house  of  worship  and  there  has  been  no  Missionary 
Fund  to  aid  them  in  procuring  a pastor.  Hence,  no  material  progress  has  been  made 
through  these  long  years.  Believing  they  can  now  secure  the  needed  aid  through 
the  new  relations  into  which  they  have  entered,  this  struggling  little  band  has  just 
contracted  for  a neat  Church  House  that  was  sold  to  them  by  one  of  the  white  con- 
gregations. If  they  can  have  proper  aid,  they  should  soon  have  a flourishing  con- 
gregation in  this  city  where  the  negro  population  is  so  numerous.  The  same  is 
true  in  many  other  towns  and  cities  throughout  the  territory  which  this  church 
occupies. 


18 


THE  OPEN  DOOR. 


Having  no  special  alliance  with  anyone  of  the  white  Presbyterian  Churches, 
being  entirely  independent  in  all  their  relations  and  transactions,  these  colored 
Cumberland  Presbyterians  desire  to  conduct  their  work  in  such  a way  as  to  command 
the  sympathetic  aid  of  all  their  white  brethren  of  the  Presbyterian  family.  They 
proclaim  theirs  as  missionary  territory  and  they  announce  an  open  door  everjrwhere 
throughout  their  field  for  Evangelistic,  Missionary,  Sunday  School  and  all  other 
forms  of  church  work.  Having  realized  the  great  benefit  accruing  from  the  system- 
atic aid  accorded  them  the  past  few  years  by  the  Freedmen’s  Board  of  one  of  these 
churches,  they  are  hopeful  of  being  made  the  recipients  of  a like  ministry  from 
others  and  they  pledge  their  most  loyal  endeavor  in  the  right  use  of  all  facilities  for 
better  work  that  may  be  placed  in  their  hands.  Their  General  Assembly  has 
called  into  existence  an  Advisory  Board  composed  of  white  men  representing  several 
of  the  Presbyterian  Churches,  which  Board  counsels  with  them  in  all  their  plans 
and  policies. 

W.  J.  DARBY, 

Evansville,  Ind.  Chairman. 


Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States. 

The  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  for  a number  of  years  past,  has 
felt  the  urgent  need  of  aggressive  Christian  work  among  the  Colored  People  of  the 
South.  From  time  to  time  within  the  bounds  of  that  denomination  there  have 
been  individual  and  sporadic  efforts  put  forth  in  this  direction.  Thus,  General 
John  E.  Roller,  a member  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Harrisonburg,  Virginia,  of  his 
own  initiative  and  relying  upon  his  own  resources,  has  been  carrying  on  a modest 
work  among  these  people  in  the  State  of  \'irginia.  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Murphy,  Pastor 
of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Hickory,  N.  C.,  has  for  a number  of  years  gathered  at 
least  once  a week  in  his  own  study  the  colored  ministers  of  his  community  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  them  instruction  in  the  jjreparation  of  their  sermons  and  the  art 
of  preaching.  Kentucky  Classis  of  the  Synod  of  the  North-west,  in  affiliation  with 
the  Louisville  Presbytery  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.,  and  the  Presby- 
tery of  Louisvdlle  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.,  has  been  carrying  for- 
ward an  extensive  and  encouraging  work  among  the  Colored  People  of  Louisville, 
Ky.  From  time  to  time  overtures  and  appeals  have  come  before  the  General 
Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  U.  S.,  urging  definite  action  on  its  part.  At 
its  meeting  in  York,  1908,  the  General  Synod  took  the  following  action; 

"That  there  is  a large  field  for  usefulness  in  the  further  uplift  of  the  colored 
race  in  this  country  is  a demonstrated  fact.  Your  Committee,  in  full  recog- 
nition of  this  fact,  would  suggest  the  following: 

R'ESOLV'ED,  That  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  be  requested  to  do  what- 
soever it  can  or  may  in  this  matter,  either  by  co-operating  with  individuals, 
organizations,  or  upon  its  own  initiative.” 

Encouraged  by  this  definite  action,  the  Board,  through  its  representatives,  at 
a meeting  of  the  Council  of  Reformed  Churches  holding  the  Presbyterian  System, 
at  Phila<lclphia,  in  March,  1911,  entered  into  agreement  on  the  following  action: 

"1.  That  the  constituent  Churches  of  this  Council  should  unify,  through 
existing  agencies,  or  agencies  to  be  established  by  the  Supreme  Judicatories, 
their  work  for  the  colored  people  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

“2.  That,  to  this  end  a permanent  Committee  shall  be  formed,  to  be  com- 
posed of  the  Secretary  and  two  members  of  each  Board  or  agency  already  at 
work  among  the  colored  people,  together  with  three  representatives,  to  be 
elected  from  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  and  three  from  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America;  the  representatives  to  be  chosen  by  the  Boards 
or  other  agencies  designated  by  the  Supreme  Judicatories  of  the  constituent 
Churches. 

“3.  That  this  permanent  committee  shall  have  power  to  plan  the  co-opera- 
tive work  and  to  put  plans  into  operation,  when  approved  by  the  Boards  and 
other  agencies  appointing  the  committees,  subject  to  supervisory  power  of 
the  Supreme  Judicatories.” 

In  1911,  the  General  Synod  at  its  meeting  in  Canton,  Ohio,  approved  of  this 
action  by  adopting  the  following: 

“RESOLVED,  That  our  General  Synod  heartily  approves  this  very  im- 
portant work,  and  in  harmony  with  the  recommendations  of  the  Council  of 
the  Reformed  Churches  in  America,  directs  the  attention  of  our  Home  Mis- 


19 


sion  Board  to  this  matter,  and  also  the  attention  of  North  Carolina  Classis 
and  Virginia  Classis,  with  the  suggestion  that,  if  possible,  they  co-operate 
with  the  already  existing  agencies  of  our  Sister  Churches  in  carrying  on  such 
work;  and 

“RESOLVED,  That  in  view  of  these  facts,  we  recommend  the  apportion- 
ment of  $3,000  per  annum  for  this  work,  to  be  expended  by  our  Home  Mis- 
sionary Board,  through  the  Joint  Committee  of  the  Council  of  the  Reformed 
Churches  in  America  holding  the  Presbyterian  System.” 

At  the  same  time,  the  General  Synod  elected  Dr.  Charles  E.  Schaeffer,  Dr.  J. 
C.  Leonard,  Dr.  J.  L.  Murphy  to  represent  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  U.  S.  on 
the  Permanent  Committee  created  by  the  Council  of  Reformed  Churches  in  America 
holding  the  Presbyterian  System.  This  Joint  Committee  met  at  Pittsburgh,  April 
26,  1912,  and  adopted  a series  of  resolutions  which  were  subsequently  submitted  to 
the  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United.  States.  At  its 
^nual  Meeting  in  July,  1912,  the  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church 
in  the  U.  S.,  in  pursuance  to  the  Resolutions  submitted  to  it  by  the  Joint  Com- 
mittee of  the  Council,  took  the  following  action: 

“1.  That  this  Board  approve  of  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Perma- 
nent Committee  of  the  Council  of  Reformed  Churches  holding  the.Presby- 
terian  System  on  April  25, 1912,  and  that  we  give  authority  to  our  representa- 
tives to  co-operate  in  the  various  phases  of  the  work  indicated  in  those  resolu- 
tions. 

“2.  That  inasmuch  as  Kentucky  Classis  of  our  Church  is  already  par- 
ticipating in  colored  work  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  our  General  Synod  at 
Canton  has  approved  of  the  nature  of  this  specific  work  at  Louisville,  there- 
fore, be  it  RESOLVED,  That  we  make  a contribution  of  $500  to  the  work 
among  the  colored  people  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  out  of  the  funds  apportioned 
for  this  purpose.” 

The  Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States 
contemplates  to  keep  in  sympathetic  touch  with  the  evangelistic  and  educational 
work  in  behalf  of  the  colored  people  of  the  South  through  the  Institutions  which  are 
already  established  and  supported  by  other  Church  Bodies  engaged  in  this  work. 
It  proposes,  as  soon  as  the  funds  apportioned  for  this  purpose  become  available,  to 
assist  in  the  educational  work  for  colored  people  at  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  and 
also  in  a similar  work  at  Stillman  Institute,  Tuskaloosa,  Ala.  The  Board  fully 
appreciates  the  importance  and  far  reaching  significance  of  this  work  among  our 
Brethren  in  the  South,  and  it  earnestly  challenges  the  liberality  of  its  constituency 
so  that  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States  may  make  the  greatest  contribu- 
tion possible  to  the  uplift  of  the  colored  people  in  our  land. 

C.  E.  SCHAEFFER, 

Philadelphia,  Pa.  Secretary. 


The  Reformed  Church  in  America. 

For  a number  of  years  the  Reformed  (^hurch  has  aided  in  the  maintenance  of  a 
few  negro  churches  in  South  Carolina,  appropriations  for  their  support  having  been 
regularly  made  by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  upon  the  application  of  the 
churches  with  the  approval  of  the  Classis  of  Philadelphia,  with  which  the  churches 
have  ecclesiastical  connection.  It  has  been  increasingly  evident  that  some  lack  of 
efficiency  of  this  work  for  colored  people  was  occasioned  by  the  distance  of  the 
field  from  Reformed  Church  centers,  which  made  adequate  supervision  difficult,  if 
not  impossible.  The  work  was  not  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  warrant  any  plan  for 
superintendency  from  either  the  Classis  or  the  Mission  Board.  For  this  reason  the 
Board  undertook  to  interest  the  Executive  Committee  for  Home  Missions  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  in  the  matter,  and  in  due  course  .that 
organization  consented  to  supervise  the  work  in  the  interest  of  the  Reformed  Church 
in  America. 

This  plan  of  supervision  was  laid  by  the  Board  before  the  General  'Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Church  at  its  meeting  in  Asbury  Park,  New  Jersey,  in  June,  1911. 
At  that  session  the  Synod  passed  the  following  resolution: 

Resolved;  That  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  be  authorized  to  transfer 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States  the  administration  of  funds 
contributed  or  appropriated  for  the  work  of  colored  evangelization  in  the 
Southern  States,  with  a view  to  the  ultimate  transfer  of  our  churches  in  South 
Carolina  to  the  ecclesiastical  fellowship  of  that  denomination. 


20 


With  this  authorization  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  for  something  over 
a year,  has  made  appropriations  direct  to  the  Committee  for  Home  Missions  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United  States,  and  the  Committee  has  in  turn 
made  appropriations  to  the  individual  churches  in  accordance  with  their  needs. 
Reports  are  made  by  the  Committee  to  the  Board  at  stated  times,  and  the  latter 
enjoys  the  assurance  that  its  work  among  colored  people  is  receiving  attention  and 
supervision  which  it  has  heretofore  been  found  impossible  to  give  it. 

Up  to  the  present  time  no  steps  have  been  taken  toward  the  carrying  out  of 
the  second  part  of  the  resolution  of  the  General  Synod,  that  is,  the  ecclesiastical 
transfer  of  the  South  Carolina  churches  to  the  fellowship  of  the  Southern  Presby- 
terian Church. 

WILLIAM  T.  DEMAREST, 

New  York.  Secretary. 


The  White  Man’s  Obligation. 


"It  is  just  because  the  negro  is  ignorant;  just  because  he  is  having  a hard 
battle  to  win  industrial  competence;  just  because  he  is  sinking  under  the  burdens 
of  awful  diseases;  and  just  because  he  has  not  attained  unto  the  full  stature  of 
moral  manhood  that  every  Christian  man  is  under  obligation  to  know  and  better 
his  condition. 

It  is  because  we  of  the  South  love  our  homes  and  want  to  protect  them,  that  we 
must  no  longer  remain  ignorant  of  this  question.  It  is  because  we  are  born  in  a 
section  immortalized  by  such  spirits  as  Lee  and  Jackson,  who  gave  their  lives  for 
its  welfare,  that  we,  in  this  hour  of  our  Southland’s  greatest  need,  will  not  prove 
traitors,  but  will,  with  the  hearts  of  true  sons,  bring  to  its  aid  the  largest  knowledge, 
the  sanest  judgment,  the  clearest  thought  which  loyal  sons  can  bring.”  (Weatherford.) 

“He  is  dead  whose  hand  is  not  opened  wide. 

To  help  the  need  of  a human  brother; 

He  doubles  the  length  of  his  life-long  ride 
Who  of  his  fortune  gives  to  another; 

And  a thousand  million  lives  are  his 

Who  carries  the  world  in  his  sympathies. 

To  deny 
Is  to  die.” 


21 


THE  ADMINISTRATIVE  AGENCIES 


1.  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America,  25  E.  22d  St., 
New  York.  Secretary-,  Mr.  Wm.  T.  Demarest;  Treasurer,  Mr.  James  Wiggins. 

2.  Board  of  Missions  for  Freedmen  of  the  Presb\-terian  Church,  U.  S.  A.,  Bessemer 
Bldg.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Cor.  Sec.-Treas.,  Rev.  E.  P.  Cowan,  D.D.;  Associate 
Sec’y,  Rev.  John  M.  Gaston. 

3.  The  Board  of  Missions  to  the  Freedmen  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  United 
Presb\nerian  Church  of  North  America.  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  Cor.  Sec.-Treas., 
Rev.  J.  W.  Witherspoon,  D.D.,  1703  Buena  Vista  St. 

4.  The  Executive  Committee  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States,  Forsyth  Bldg.,  Atlanta,  Ga.  Secretaries,  Rev.  S.  L.  Morris, 
D.D.  and  Rev.  Homer  McMillan,  Atlanta,  Ga.;  Rev.  J.  G.  Snedecor,  L.L.D., 
Tuscaloosa,  Ala.;  Treasurer,  Mr.  A.  X.  Sharp,  P.  O.  Drawer  1686. 

5.  Board  of  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  U.  S.,  15th  and  Race  Sts., 
Philadelphia.  Gen.  Sec.,  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Schaeffer,  D.D.;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Jos. 
S.  Wise. 

6.  Cumberland  Presbx’terian  Church,  Colored.  Remittances  for  Education  may 
be  sent  to  the  President  of  the  Board,  Rev.  R.  H.  Goodloe,  Pratt  City,  Ala. ; for 
Missionary  Work  to  Rev.  J.  M.  W.  DeShong,  Fayetteville,  Term.;  for  Sabbath 
School  Work  to  Rev.  Jas.  Edwards,  D.  D.,  Huntingdon,  Tenn.  Or,  contribu- 
tions designed  for  any  part  of  the  work  of  this  denomination  may  be  sent  to 
the  Chairman  of  the  Advisory  Board,  Rev.  W.  J.  Darby,  Evansx'iUe,  Ind. 

Remittances  forwarded  to  any  of  the  above  agencies,  designated  for  work 
among  colored  Cumberland  Presbyterians,  wiU  be  duly  credited  and  appro- 
priated as  directed. 

THE  WORK  OF  THE  PERMANENT  COMMITTEE. 

All  funds  for  work  among  the  colored  people  should  be  sent  by  the  contributors 

to  their  respective  denominational  Agencies.  In  the  prosecution  of  its  specific  work 

this  Committee  necessarily  needs  and  can  use  wisely  a considerable  sum  of  money. 

Remittances  for  this  purpose  should  be  addressed  to  the  Treasurer,  Rev.  W.  J. 

Darby,  Evansville,  Ind. 


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